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Gov. Deval Patrick, left, is seen with Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey during an interview with The Republican Friday to criticize a legislative plan to raise the gas tax, saying it fails to raise enough revenues to help regions outside Boston.
( Fil Filippides / Massachusetts governor's office)

BOSTON - Gov. Deval L. Patrick said Friday that a legislative bill to increase the gas tax asks people in Western Massachusetts to pay more at the pumps without giving them much of anything in return.

"It's just too small," Patrick said ahead of a vote on Monday to raise the gas tax by three cents. "It's not meaningful change."

Patrick, the state's two term Democratic governor, on Thursday vowed to veto the Legislature's $500 million revenue bill if it comes to his desk in its current form.

Patrick has filed a competing $1.9 billion bill to raise taxes and other revenues, saying that level is needed to assure financing for road projects such as replacement of the crumbling Interstate 91 viaduct in Springfield, as well as education improvements.

The state House of Representatives on Monday is scheduled to vote on a bill to increase the state's 23.5 cent a gallon gas tax by three cents, indexed to inflation, and to raise the tax on cigarettes by $1 to $3.51 pack. Combined with proposed new taxes on software companies, utilities and large corporations, the plan by legislative leaders would raise about $500 million a year.

But Rep. Brian S. Dempsey, a top lieutenant to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, said Friday that legislators are going as far as they can in raising revenues. If the bill passes and Patrick vetoes it, it would require a two thirds vote in each legislative branch to override a veto.

"We have put together a plan that is sensitive to the economic climate, sensitive to the middle class and one that is well balanced," said Dempsey, a Haverhill Democrat who is the budget leader in the House.

Dempsey said the bill helps regions such as Western Massachusetts with a measure to boost the budgets of regional transit authorities such as the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority in Springfield.

Patrick and Richard A. Davey, secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, gave an exclusive phone interview to The Republican on Friday. Patrick suggested that he is attempting to reach House members and people in Western Massachusetts before Monday's vote.

"I don’t see how it’s either good policy or good politics to raise taxes on everybody without being able to show that you’re delivering something at home," Patrick said in a separate e-mail to supporters on Friday.

Davey said the legislative bill requires the transportation department to meet certain revenue targets. In order to hit those targets, Davey said tolls would be increased by 15 percent in each of 2015 and 2016 on the Massachusetts Turnpike including west of the intersection with Route 128.

Patrick said the legislative bill would basically only raise enough revenues to close an operating deficit at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, preventing fare increases in Greater Boston

The House of Representatives is set to vote on two bills on Monday, one that includes raising the gas tax and another that would increase grants for road improvements in municipalities by 50 percent to $300 million.

In the interview, Patrick also issued a warning on the $300 million bill for so-called Chapter 90 grants to cities and towns.

"I can sign that bill all day long, but not release the funds unless we get the revenue to support it," Patrick said.

The Chapter 90 grants are in a bond bill. Under a bond bill, legislators authorize a certain amount of funds, but it is up to the governor to release and actually spend bond funds.

Patrick said he would need more than a $500 million revenue bill in order to fund Chapter 90 at $300 million.

Patrick said he might be required to release bonds to replace the aging Interstate viaduct between State Street and Interstate 291 in Springfield, but not fund the Chapter 90 program for a period of time. Patrick said the viaduct is in such poor condition that chunks fell from it on Wednesday.

Patrick filed a bill in January to eventually raise $1.9 billion a year, including $1 billion annually for transportation improvements and $900 million for expansions in education.

Patrick's bill would raise the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, but he said he is open to compromise on the ways to generate enough revenues to help areas outside Boston.

The Citizens for Limited Taxation issued a statement on Friday, saying it opposed both bills by Patrick and legislative leaders. The organization, which led approval of Proposition 2.5 in 1980, said it supports a Republican plan that calls for certain reforms and no taxes.

Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., a Westfield Republican, said he absolutely will not vote in support of an increase in the gas tax.

Humason said the gas tax disproportionately affects people in Western Massachusetts because the region generally lacks public transportation. Humason said people in the region are more dependent on motor vehicles than people in and around Boston, which benefits from the buses and rail of the massive MBTA.

House members are facing a long debate on Monday. Before Friday's deadline, members filed 101 proposed amendments to the gas tax bill and 16 proposed amendments to the Chapter 90 bill.